Morrissey sides with ‘This Charming Charlie’ Tumblr

Singer Morrissey has urged bosses at Universal Music to back off after they waged war against a Tumblr page inspired by his lyrics.

Graphic designer Lauren LoPrete runs a Tumblr.com page, titled This Charming Charlie, in which samples of words from the songs of The Smiths are used to caption Charlie Brown sketches.

Last month, it emerged that bosses at Universal had asked LoPrete to remove the images, but she has hit back by employing a legal team to fight the case – and Morrissey has now spoken out to praise the blog and deny he is behind the move to have it taken down.

In a statement, a representative for the star says, “Morrissey would like to stress that he has not been consulted over any takedown request to remove the Tumblr blog named ‘This Charming Charlie.’ Morrissey is represented by Warner-Chappell Publishing, and not Universal Music Publishing, (who have allegedly demanded that the lyrics be removed).

“Morrissey is delighted and flattered by the Peanuts comic strip with its use of Morrissey-Smiths lyrics, and he hopes that the strips remain.”